The road from there to here
How Hamilton wound up hosting its first Grey Cup game in 25 years
Feb. 20, 2009 — Just three days before city council votes on helping finance a stadium for the 2015 Pan Am Games, Mark Cohon, then CFL commissioner, says that in order to have a chance host a Grey Cup, Hamilton needs a new state-of-theart stadium, replacing Ivor Wynne.
June 10, 2010 — With the team and city at odds where to locate the new stadium meant for the 2015 Pan Am Games, Ticat president Scott Mitchell says Hamilton will host a Grey Cup as soon as 2013 if terms on a suitable stadium can be agreed upon soon.
Jan. 11, 2011 — With both sides compromising, under new Mayor Bob Bratina the city and Ticats finally agree to locate the new stadium at the site of Ivor Wynne.
Dec. 20, 2012 — Demolition of Ivor Wynne Stadium begins.
February 2013 — Construction of Pan Am Games stadium (Tim Hortons Field) begins.
Sept. 1, 2014 — Tim Hortons Field, although still unfinished, opens with Ticats winning Labour Day Classic, 13-12, over Toronto.
May 17, 2018 — With litigation involving the city, Tiger-Cats, Infrastructure Ontario and the Pan Am Games over stadium construction flaws essentially settled, the city and team are free to partner on a Grey Cup bid.
Jan. 16, 2019 — CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie and Ticats reps speak to city council behind closed doors about a bid to host the 2020 Grey Cup game and festival in Hamilton. Regina and Montreal are also making bids.
Feb. 21, 2019 — Ambrosie announces on live TV that Regina will host the 2020 Grey Cup and Hamilton the 2021 Grey Cup. Viewing parties held in Hamilton and Regina (Regina announced first), but not Montreal which had dropped out (team about to be given back to league).
Feb. 22, 2019 — City announces on its website it has committed $1.7 million to the 2021 festival, but the ratio of cash to in-kind contributions is not revealed.
May 23, 2019 — Ticats make public their plans for Tim Hortons Field configuration for 2020 Grey Cup, including heavy emphasis on social viewing in south end zone, and creative ways to up capacity to 33,000.
May 20, 2020 — Regina cancelled as a neutral site if the 2020 Grey Cup can be played and is awarded 2022 game and festival as ion. Aug. 17, 2020 — Entire 2020 CFL season is cancelled because of COVID-19. For first time since 1919, the Grey Cup will not be awarded.
Nov. 21, 2020 — Exactly one year before the scheduled 2021 Grey Cup game in Hamilton, CFL and Tiger-Cats announce branding and logo for 2021 Grey Cup during Grey Cup Unite, a virtual Grey Cup Week.
Nov. 23, 2020 — Grey Cup ticket sales open for Tiger-Cats season ticket holders who have renewed for the 2021 season.
April 21, 2021 — CFL postpones start of season, Grey Cup moved back three weeks to Dec. 12.
Aug. 5, 2021 — CFL plays its first game in the 626 days since the 2019 Grey Cup. Blue Bombers 19, Ticats 6 in Winnipeg in rematch of Grey Cup finalists.
Oct. 14, 2021 — The CFL announces that, for logistic and planning reasons, the 2021 Grey Cup game will be limited to 24,000 spectators, with no extra seating installed and that downtown Grey Cup Festival events would be scaled back. As a compensatory measure, Hamilton was also awarded the 2023 Grey Cup and Festival, when the original plans for 2021 (with even more enhancements) can be implemented.
Oct. 26, 2021 — Grey Cup tickets go on sale to general public, with fewer than 5,000 left after priority given to , for Ticats one season’s week, season’s ticket holdge ticket holders in the other eight CFL cities.
Nov. 9, 2021 — The Spectator tweets that Spirit of Edmonton will hold its famous Grey Cup Breakfast in Hamilton Dec. 11, the first formal confirmation of a specific festival event.
Nov. 12, 2021 — Renowned Hamilton-originated rock band Arkells unveiled as the Grey Cup halftime entertainment.
Nov. 14, 2021. — CFL and Ticats announce that tickets to the league Awards Night at the Convention entre will be free and that the Grey Cup would arrive in town (Bayfront park) on Dec. 7, the combined “Eastern Social Hall” on the Friday and Saturday, plus Saturday’s “Western Social Hall” and the Tiger-Town Game Day party on the Sunday, will all be held at the Convention Centre.
Nov. 28, 2021. — Hamilton beats Montreal, Saskatchewan beats Calgary in division semifinals
Dec. 1, 2021 — At Tim Hortons Field, Lisa MacLeod, provincial minister for heritage, sport, tourism and culture, announces province is giving $1.5 million to support each of the 2021 and ’23 Grey Cups in Hamilton.
Dec. 5, 2021 — Hamilton TigerCats defeat Toronto Argonauts in East Final; Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeat Saskatchewan Roughriders in West Final.
Dec. 12, 2021 — Grey Cup game, Winnipeg vs. Hamilton, at Tim Hortons Field, 6 p.m.